Proctor Compaction Test for

Maximum Dry Density

 What Is Compaction?
 Compaction is the process of increasing the
bulk density of a soil or aggregate by driving out
air.

 For any soil, at a given compactive effort, the

density obtained depends on the moisture content.

 For any soil, an “optimum water content” exists at

which it will achieve it’s maximum density.
Soils are compacted for the
following reasons:
1. To increase strength and stability
2. To decrease permeability
3. To enhance resistance to erosion
4. Decrease compressibility under load and
minimize settlement
Common Equipment
Shown:
 Sheepsfoot
 Padfoot
 Vibratory Roller
 Grid Roller
Dynamic Compaction:
Profile of Overlap
Definition: Maximum Dry Density
 The peak dry unit weight is called the
"maximum dry density”.

 The Optimum Water Content, wopt, is the

water content at the soil’s maximum dry
density.
 Achieving Maximum Compaction
In The Field
 Proctor Compaction Test determines the optimum water
content and maximum dry density of for a soil.

 A required range for moisture is often specified by the

engineer:
 Ie, 3% below and 2% above optimum.

 For example, if optimum water content is 16%, the

acceptable range would be from 13% to 18%.

 Percent compaction is also specified:

 Meaning “required percentage of max dry density”

% Compaction = ρdry field /ρdry max

Dry Density Curve: Proctor Test
 How Does A Contractor Modify
Compaction in the Field?

 Adjust Water Content

 More Passes
 Thinner Lifts
 Bigger Rollers
How Do We Determine
Actual Field Density?
 Sand Cone Test

 Nuclear Densometer
 Getting Back To The Proctor
Compaction Test
 Test developed to help
specify levels (%)
compaction (1933).

 Ralph R. Proctor first

defined this standard
compaction test in
Engineering News Record
 Proctor Compaction Procedure

 Soil is air dried, pulverized

& passed thru #4 sieve.

 Separated into 4 to 6 samples.

 Adjust the water content of each sample by adding

water.
 Proctor Compaction Procedure
 Using the proctor mould (1/30th cubic foot)
place & compact soil in 3 layers.

 Each layer should receive 25 drops of the

compaction hammer.
Proctor Compaction Procedure
 After the last layer, use a straight edge to
trim the excess soil leveling to the top of
the mould.
Proctor Compaction Procedure
 Determine the weight of the mould with
the compacted moist soil.

 Extrude from mould and collect a sample

for water content determination.

 Repeat for each sample over a range of

moisture contents.
 Proctor Compaction Procedure
 After collecting all
pertinent weights,
calculate dry density
and plot vs. water
content
 Typical Proctor Data
 1 2   3  4  5  6  7  8  9
Mold + Wet  Moist Unit Wt.  Mass of Can  Mass Can +  Mass of Can +  Moisture 
Mold (lbs) Soil (lbs) Moist Soil (lbs) (pcf) (g) Moist Soil (g) Dry Soil Content Dry Unit Wt.

9.31 13.23 3.92 117.60 61.00 273.50 249.70 0.13 104.43

9.20 13.60 4.40 132.00 61.00 280.00 249.20 0.16 113.44

9.31 13.52 4.21 126.30 61.00 242.90 214.90 0.18 106.86

9.30 13.34 4.04 121.20 61.00 306.70 265.60 0.20 100.93

9.20 13.25 4.05 121.50 61.00 222.60 190.20 0.25 97.14

9.31 13.16 3.85 115.50 61.00 212.20 178.10 0.29 89.45

(Line 3)/(1/30) (Line 4)/(1+Line 8)
Graph from Proctor Data
 Achieving Maximum
Compaction
 For any job requiring fill/compaction the engineer will
specify the compaction requirements:

ODOT Roadway Embankment Requirements:

Maximum Laboratory Minimum Compaction
Dry Weight Requirements in Percent of
[lb/ft3 ] Laboratory Maximum
90 to 104.9 102

105 to 119.9 100

120 and higher 98

 Achieving Maximum
Compaction
 Since the maximum dry density is material
specific,
 AND
 Since material being hauled in may
change from truck to truck,
 It is necessary to verify the maximum dry
density number for the material being
placed.
 One-Point Proctor
 Thus, the one-point proctor is used to
verify the maximum dry density of soils in
the field.
 One proctor test is done to determine the
wet density vs. moisture content.
 Then a “family of curves” is used to
determine the maximum dry density.
ODOT Family of Curves
 Percent Compaction
 Then, comparing the maximum dry
density to the ACTUAL density being
achieved (nuclear densometer), we can
calculate % compaction.

 % Compaction = ρdry field /ρdry max